Wind-wheel



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 M. IRRGANG.

WIND WHEEL Patented Apr. 14, 1891.

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W messes %ZW4 (No Mode 1.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

M. IR-RGANG. WIND WHEEL.

Patented Apr. 14,1891.

IRRGANG.

3 SheetsSh aet 3;

WIND WHEEL.

(No Model.)

NO. 450,411. Patented Apr. 14,1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAX IRRGANG, on BOWMANVILLE, ILLINoIs.

WIND-'WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 450,411, dated April14, 1891.

Application filed October 9, 1890.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MAX IRRGANG, a citizen ofGermany, residing at Bowmanville, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inWind-Wheels; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to wind-wheels; and it consists of improvements inhorizontal wheels of this class, as hereinafter fully described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows a top view of my improvedwheel. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are details showing the move ment of theblades. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the wheel, showing two opposite arms,intervening arms being removed. Fig. 6 is a detail of the automaticdevice for relieving the blades from excessive pressure in the event ofstorms. Fig. 7 shows the manner of pivoting the blades. Figs. 8 and 9aredetails of the device for controlling the blades.

The wheel, consisting of any number of ra diating arms A A A, is keyedupon a vertical shaft a, which is journaled in the upright frame a. Thearms A carry vertical rectangular sail-frames a a between the sides ofwhich are pivoted the slats or blades 13 B bymeans of the pins 19,secured near one side of the blade, and the socket-plates b, attached tothe frame. The frames of are set out from the arms A by means of theblocks X a sufficient distance to permit the blades B to open towardsaid arms. The distance between the adjacent blades is slightly greaterthan their width. Abar Ois located between the frame a and the arm A andis carried by the blocks X by means of links 0 which are pivoted both tothe blocks and bar, so as to admit of a longitudinal and a lateralmovement of the bar. An in-thrust of the bar 0 throws it against theframe a and prevents the blades B from turning in toward the arm A. Anout-thrust of the bar 0 throws it against the arm A, permitting theblades to turn back freely. Stop-rods c extend laterally from the arm Athrough the frame a ad- $erial No. 367,518. (No model.)

jacent to and at the outer side of the pivoted point of the blades B,whereby said blades are limited in their movement to a half-revolution.

\Vhen the bar 0 is thrown against the frame a the action of the windcauses the blades to close and open at each revolution of the wheel. Thewheel moves from left to right. As each arm comes parallel with thedirection of the wind the blades are closed, and as the wheel continuesto turn the sail receives the full force of the wind. When the sail hasagain passed the line of direction of the wind, the blades open and theair passes freely between them. The direction of the wind is immaterialto the action of the wheel.

It being desirable to have the wheel under control, this object isattained in the following manner: The rod 0 is pivotally connected withthe vertical arm of the three-arm bellcrank c, pivoted upon'the arm Aupon the opposite side of the wheel. One of the horizontal arms of thebell-crank is prolonged and carries a weight 0 which holds the rod 0against the frame a A sliding sleeve D is mounted upon the shaft aimmediately below the hub E, which carries the arm A. This sleeve isconnected by the rod cl with the hand-lever F, operating in connectionwith the ordinary ratchet-segment f, whereby the sleeve D may be raisedor lowered at pleasure. A collar G,having radiating arms g g, is carriedby and revolves freelyv upon the sleeve D, which is suitably grooved toretain it. A rod or link r, pivoted to the in ner arm of the bell-crankof, passes down: wardly through an aperture in the arm g and carries anut g on its lower end, so that when the arm of the bell-crank to whichit is attached is depressed it slides freely in the aperture; but thenut g prevents the upward movement of the bell-crank arm. When thehand-lever Fis released from its engagement with the ratchet f, theweight raises the sleeve G and throws the bar 0 against the framepreventing the blades B from turning backward, so that the wheel isbrought into action.

In the event of a wind storm the pressure upon the blades and the arm 0is sufficient to raise the weight 0 the blades turning back, so as topartially relieve the pressure. By

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adjusting the weight upon the arm of the bell-crank the power, andconsequently the speed of the wheel, can in a great measure beregulated. By means of the hand-lever F the sleeve D may be drawn down,thus raising the weight 0 and throwing. the bar 0 away from the frame (bwhen the blades B are allowed to turn back freely and the wheel is outof action.

I have described the construction of a single sail-arm. It will be seenthat they are all alike, each being provided with a pressure-bar,weighted bell'crank, and attachment to the collar G.

To secure strength andfreedom of action, it is desirable to prolong theshaft a upwardly to support truss-rods II. A con nectingrod K shouldunite the outer ends of the adjacent sail-arms, and spurs 6 shouldproject downwardly from the hub E to engage the sleeveD.

Having described my improved wind-wheel, whatI'claim as my inventionis 1. In a wind-wheel moving in-a horizontal plane, the combination,with the shaft carrying radiating arms, of vertical sail-frames mountedupon sail-arms, blades pivoted in the upper and lower sides-of saidframes, the stop-bar O for limiting the rotation of the blades, and astop-rod extending laterally from the sail-arm adjacent to each blade,substantially as described.

2. In ahorizontal Wind-wheel having vertical sail-frames and swingingblades, the combination, substantially as described, of a stop-- bar 0for limiting the movement of the blades, swinging links for securing thebar to the sail-arm, a bell-crank having a vertical arm connected withthe stop-bar, ahorizontal arm carrying an adjustable weight, and asecondhorizontal arm opposite to the weighted arm, and means fordepressing the second horizontal arm.

3. In a horizontal wind-wheel, the combina* tion of vertical sail-frameshaving swinging blades, stop-rods extending laterally from the sail-armsand adjacent to each blade, a stopbar extending perpendicularly to thelateral stop-rods, swinging links for securing the stop-bar to the frameand imparting to it a lateral motion, a bell-crank for operating thestop-bar and having a vertical arm attached to the said bar, ahorizontal arm extendingin an opposite direction to said bar andcarrying a sliding weight, and a second horizontal arm opposite to theweighted arm, a vertical sliding. sleeve carried by the main shaft, alink depending from the second'horizontal arm of the bell-crank andsliding in an aperture in the sleeve, a head or cross-bar upon the lowerend of the link, a hand-lever'for drawing down the sleeve, and a link orchain connecting the lever and sleeve, substan tially as described, andforthe purposes'set forth.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MAX IRRGANG.

Witnesses:

J. A. BOMMHARDT, JOHN C. WEBER.

